Nevermind Winter! Find Your Happy Place this May. Here’s How

Learn to breathe (we’re not kidding), dance or hike for your supper – two of many options to get you on top of the world

To keep your spirits high as we transition into winter this May, we’ve uncovered the secret to happiness. And we’ve found it in more than one place – from a blacksmith to dancing and even a breathing expert. See which route to happiness suits you best.

RISE AND BEAT THE SUNSHINE11 MAY Kick start Mother's Day weekend on a high note with a morning workout at the luxurious Val de Vie Estate. Get a complimentary coffee before fitness influencers take you for a stretching, pilates and dance session at a new pop up workout called Chase The Sun.Cost: R299 (single entry), R520 (besties tickets)Val De Vie Wine | Jan van Riebeeck Road | Paarl | +27 (0)21 406 2141 | amy.hopkins@media24.com

THE ROAD IS LONG3-9 MAY Start a seven-day adventure along the Cape Peninsula and rediscover yourself and the city you live in. There are secrets to discover and epiphanies to achieve when you do the Set Date Camino. Cost: R8714ppThe Cape Peninsula | +27 (0)83 99 77 404 | peggy@capecamino.co.za

THE MOST GAY (FRIENDLY) CITY IN THE WORLD4 MAY Hong Kong was supposed to host Mr Gay World 2019. But the event organiser took it away from them and gave it to Cape Town instead. Find out why that happened and what you can expect at the 2019 edition of the Mr Gay World Finale. Cost: R150-R625ppCity Hall | cnr Darling and Parade Street | +27 (0)21 400 2201 | office@mrgayworld.com

WHEN GIN CRASHES A WHISKY PARTY2-4 MAY One of the biggest whisky festivals in Cape Town is inviting trouble by allowing some of the best Gin brands both locally and internationally to crash it's latest party. You get to taste top brands in both beverage types at the Whisky Live Festival Cape Town. Cost: R130-R260ppThe Lookout | V&A Waterfront | +27 (0)861 008 277 | contact@whiskylive.co.za

SAVE SICK BABIES BY ENJOYING LOCAL MUSIC1 MAY The Groote Schuur Neonatal Unit, in conjunction with the Newborns Groote Schuur Trust, are throwing a fundraiser. All you have to do to help is buy a ticket to see Craig Lucas, Goodluck, Hezron Chetty and Alanna Joy light up the stage at the Hillcrest Quarry in Durbanville. The event is aptly named the Every Baby Counts Benefit Concert.Cost: R169ppHillcrest Quarry| Durbanville Wine Valley | +27 (0)21 404 6023 | enquiries@newborns.org.za

TO NAPOLEON, LOVE CAPE TOWNALL OF MAY (UNTIL 21 JUNE) Discover what Cape Town Win kept Napoleon Bonaparte happy during his days in exile on St Helena island. You can buy the wine and discover artifacts he used during this time such as his ship logs, wine decanters and crystal wine goblets. All of this at an exhibition hosted at the Groot Constantia Wine Estate called the Wine Of Exile.Cost: R105Groot Constantia Wine Estate| Wine Route | Constantia | +27(0)21 794 5128 | pate@mailzone.co.za

THREE PEAKS AND SECRET DRINKS1O MAYThree peaks, three days, one goal: to finish and have drinks and food at a secret location revealed at the end of each hike. The guys at Leopold 7 craft breweries want you to take on the challenge of hiking up Lion’s Head, Devil’s Peak and Table Mountain, one peak per day, three consecutive days. It’s not a race, but a personal challenge, so register for free and do the Three Peaks Fun Challenge.Cost: FreeLion’s Head, Devil’s Peak, Table Mountain | theartofbrewing@leopold7.com

LOOKOUT FOR AUDREY II! … JUST KIDDING4 MAYThis isn’t Little Shop of Horrors, but you will find anything from the simplest bush to the weirdest flower when thousands of the country’s best growers bring their finest specimens together in one place at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Stone cottages. You can find something to spruce up your garden and get some advice from gardening gurus at the Kirstenbosch Plant Fair.Cost: R10–R20Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Stone Cottages | Rhodes Drive | info@botsoc-kirstenbosch.org.za | +27(0)21 671 5468

BRUSH STRESS AWAY30 APRIL OR 1 MAYLearn to de-stress by creating art. This one-day course teaches you the process of using art as therapy and how both adults and children can apply it. You’ll learn through experiential art making and group discussions. Best of all, you don’t need any experience making art for the Intro to Art Therapy.Cost: R1450ppGorleston Road | Sea Point | info@arttherapy.co.za | +27 (0)83 326 6655

BUY A DONKEY17–19 MAYBuy a book and save a donkey. The Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary is promoting a culture of reading, while raising funds for their donkeys, by selling new and used books. Book prices are rock bottom and there's a story-telling theatre for the kids at the Eseltjiesrus Book Fair.Cost: FreeEseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary | bookfair@donkeysanctuary.co.za | 023 625 1060

TURN AROUND, TOUCH THE GROUND AND WIGGLE IT24–26 MaySexy, sultry and smooth. Learn to do the Angolan Lambada at a weekend event that includes a six-hour workshop, two-hour social event and two parties. You’ll grow as a dancer because you’ll be getting lessons from Tarraxa and Urbankizz-style double champions Marion and Jo XVI at the Intensive Kizomba Weekend from 9pm to 2am daily.Cost: R1100 (couples full pass), R800 (single full pass), R550 (party pass) book hereGerman Club Cape Town | 6 Roodehoek Terrace | Gardens

MEET THE REAL IRON MAN24 MAY–17 JULYSee the aesthetic of metal design when local blacksmith Conrad Hicks shows the artful side of his trade with an exhibition of his latest work. The exhibition will recreate aspects of Hicks’ workshop at the Southern Guild in Silo 5 and show pieces inspired by his quest for beauty. You also get to tour his studio and attend an event at his forge after visiting his showcase called Implement.Cost: FreeSouthern Guild | Silo 5, Silo District | V&A Waterfront | southernguild@theguildgroup.co.za | +27 (0)21 461 2856

TAKE A DEEP BREATH … AND RELEASE7 MAYThe secret to happiness? Art of Living teacher Pramilla Vassen says it is breathing. Learn a unique breathing technique that will release stress and help bring clarity to your life. Become skillfully peaceful and sustainably happy at the Happiness Programme.Cost: R1100, R650 (students and pensioners)81 Queen Victoria Road | Claremont | tulsi@mweb.co.za | 084 800 3355